NekoHomey Purely Joyful Movie!

SincereFinest disgusting, overrated, pointless

FirstWitch A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

Patience Watson One of those movie experiences that is so good it makes you realize you've been grading everything else on a curve.

hellraiser7 I'll admit I'm a fan of Dark Shadows, and when it comes to revivals I'm always skeptical it's always a hit or miss affair as much as movie remakes are. But this show didn't disappoint me, it really met my expectations and more, I feel this is one of the best revivals I've seen just about on par with the "Battlestar Galatica" revival. But the other thing is I saw this show when I was about ten years old, so if it wasn't for this show I never would've known about the original show "Dark Shadows".And it makes me all the more sad and teed off of the fact this show's lifespan was prematurely cut, if this show was on for the long haul it probably would of been the next big thing. We could of seen some of the other characters from the mythos like Quentin Collins, Nicolas Blair, and others. As well as had some new story lines, and not just retreads of the old ones; so yeah a lost opportunity.This show did what most good/great remakes should do; remodel everything to make things a little up to date, improve upon some areas that need some improvement, while staying true to the spirit and stand on it's own at the same time. I really love the production value, it still has the Gothic setting and tone but there is an even grander and vaster sense because everything and everyone isn't confined in just one space all the time. It's almost like this was what the original wanted to be in production sense, Collinwood in this show is foreboding but also beautiful at the same time, it has the mysterious foreboding but romantic sensibility about it. There was even some special effects in some places which actually are up to par, where in the original the special effects are terrible. The music is great which was one of the best things about the original, they even play the theme song (though slightly remixed) which has always been one of my favorite TV theme songs ever.But of course what makes this show is in it's characters and drama, the cast is great most to all were spot on with their characters, they didn't mimic the characters all had their own unique quality which made them feel like the same characters but were different at the same time. But also feel human because they make good and bad choices and sometimes there's a gray area where certain things they do can put you at odd.Ben Cross I thought was great as Barnabas Collins he my favorite version of the character (in my book), he still had those characteristics that make him all the more sympathetic with the charisma and menace to boot, As usual Barnabas is someone that is broken, he really doesn't want to do bad things but his vampiric nature drives him to divulge into his dark side.It's pretty much the same thing for the others, Lyontte Anthony I thought was good as Angelic she is still that villainous I don't completely hate and hot. I really like Dr. Julia Holfman played by cult actress Barbra Steele yeah I really like this actress since I like the Italian horror film Mario Bava's "Black Sabaath" she was perfect for the role, she is as usual dark, an intuitive nature, and does develop a love for Barnabas, so as usual my opinion on both Barnabas and her together hasn't changed. Adrian Paul as Jebadah even though it was a small role he was great, let alone the fact I'm a "Highlander" fan.And of course Victoria Winters played by Joanna Going is great and she's my favorite version of the character (in my book) because she a bit more aggressive. I remember as a kid having a crush on this actress because she's fraking hot. I even loved it when she played the Jossette role, it was just beautiful.The story telling style was still intact but it wasn't as lengthy and has improved in pacing. There was a non linear storytelling style sometimes with the flashbacks that add more depth to characters much like with Alan Moore's "Watchman" or TV show "Lost". The story arcs which were all the more intriguing and made me want to know more whenever it ended on a cliff hanger it's true they were slight retreads but done right where they didn't imitate their predecessor and were probably just a starting point a way to establish the mythology and introduce newbies like myself at the time to the franchise.I really loved it when the retold my favorite arc in the original series 1790 which of course was the origin and tragic story of how Collinwood and Barnabas came to be. Most of what happened in the arc was emotional and sad; I knew what was going to happen but at the same time I didn't want it to happen.I really have nothing bad at all to say about this show, well this is just a minor complaint and it's just my opinion. I didn't like how Maggie Evans was handled, she lacks that vibrant, naive, charismatic quality which to me was always the best thing about her, the lack of it make her almost a bit wooden. Don't get me wrong in the revival she's not a bad character but she's not the Maggie Evans I know and love. Also Angelique isn't really in this show long enough, but due to the show's run she didn't have a chance to be.Well, I have nothing left to say so I highly recommend the Dark Shadows revival, I just hope the upcoming silver screen film will be just as great. Collinwood is still that dark and beautiful place I want to revisit again and again.Rating 3 and a half stars

Tina Thomas This 12 episode series had a stellar cast, great writing and directing, etc...Ben Cross was the PERFECT lead for this series. One minute he made women want to take care of him and such and the next minute he pushed Barnabas close enough to the cataract that the audience might have wanted to cuff him one upside the head for it! He portrayed his emotional extremes rather well and made that character his own-PERIOD!The chemistry with Joanna Going was great, but I think if they went on longer with the actual story line, he'd have sunken into an abyss when she departed Collinsport for good--if the original story line was followed. Lysette Anthony made Angelique the diabolical, psychotic bitch she was supposed to be and I was really hoping to get to see someone with a sense of justice really kick her backside when it was said and done! I was really angry that the end of the original series had Barnabas actually declaring his "love" for her when in real life, she would have been loathed rather than loved for what she did to that man and his family over time, and I think Curtis would have fixed that story line. I loved Jeanne Simmons and Roy Thinnes! They captured their roles perfectly also.In the short time this series was aired, Ben Cross showed enough of his mettle that he raised the bar too high for anyone to follow-- including Johnny Depp. The best advice Dan Curtis gave to Ben: "Go ahead,Ben. Do your Hamlet." and it bloody well worked, too! I almost got tossed over the cataract watching some of those scenes. That is exactly how an actor should bring out a character--enough to either make and audience love him or her OR enough to make that audience want to kick his or her backside! Believe me that when I say that there are times when I vacillated between both emotions and it doesn't happen with me very often.Hollywood REALLY needs to use Cross a bit more. HE can still pull this stuff off no matter what he plays! After reading the Helena Bonham Carter interview regarding the story line, I am convinced that Tim Burton is going to toy with the fan's too much by monkeying with the story line too much. This version will always be the best there was as far as the remakes go.

preppy-3 Prime time remake of the classic soap opera. Governess Victoria Winters (Joanna Going) goes to the town of Collinsport to take care of young David Collins (a VERY young Joseph Gordon-Levitt). She stays a Collinwood a HUGE mansion run by Elizabeth (Jean Simmons) and Roger (Roy Thinnes) Collins. Meanwhile, in the local cemetery, good for nothing Willie Loomis (Jim Fyfe) opens a coffin looking for jewels. This resurrects Barnabas Collins (Ben Cross) a vampire and he proceeds to attack the Collins family while romancing Victoria who is the resurrection of his dead fiancée. Got all that? I'm a big fan of the old TV series. It was badly acted and moved slow but it was full of vampires, werewolves, ghosts and witches and it was never boring. It played on afternoons (around 3:30 or so) and kids ran home to see it. In 1990 NBC decided to revamp it as a night time soap and started it off with this 5 hour movie (shown over two nights). The plot for this was a combination of the old TV series and the "House of Dark Shadows" movie. The acting is pretty terrible. All the younger women in the cast are beautiful with limited acting ability. It's pretty obvious they were chosen for their looks and nothing else. Going is OK but the rest are hopeless. The same goes for the guys (although Michael T. Weiss and Gordon-Levitt try). Ben Cross, in the main role, is tall and handsome but lacks the charisma to make Barnabas work. (In Cross' defense he hated doing the series--and it comes through loud and clear). However it does have an eerie atmosphere, was shot on beautiful locations and was pretty bloody for a TV series. The fast pace helps too. This led to a short-lived (4 months) TV series which wasn't bad either. So this is worth seeing but it ends with a cliffhanger leading into the series. I give it an 8.

kapaudio I loved the original series, but this revival series is my favorite of all the DS franchise. Major kudos to the late Dan Curtis for producing a real gem.Ben Cross IS Barnabas Collins! All of the acting is superb - especially Jim Fyfe as Ben Loomis, Stefan Gerasch - all stellar cast.This series is SO underrated and should have been picked up again by NBC to continue. I've watched all 12 episodes on DVD and re-watched them half a dozen times, and I come away each time with some other little tidbit I missed previously.One thing I did notice production-wise - which may hearken back to the sort of campy production values of the original series - is seeing a mic boom in the frame during one the last 3 episodes!!! I won't say which one - in case there is someone else out there with an eagle eye!!!